Final answer:
The act of topping the ball and knocking it off the tee during a golf swing counts as a stroke, and the ball must be played from where it comes to rest after the stroke.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you top the ball and it is knocked off the tee, it does count as a stroke. According to the official rules of golf, if a player makes a stroke at the ball while it's teed up in the teeing area and the ball is moved by the stroke, the stroke is counted and the ball is in play.
The golf rules specify that you must play the ball from where it comes to rest after the stroke. So, if the topped ball only moves a short distance off the tee, you must play it from that spot. If the ball goes out of bounds or into a penalty area, you have to follow the specific rules for those scenarios, which may include taking a penalty stroke.
If the ball is topped and knocked off the tee, it does count as a stroke in golf. A topped shot occurs when the clubhead makes contact with the top half of the ball, causing it to roll along the ground. The ball must be played from the location where it comes to rest after being topped or knocked off the tee.